Album Review: Edmar Castaneda's 'Entre Cuerdas'

Harpist Edmar Castaneda's reputation has been growing steadily since his move to the United States in 1994, and seeing the list of all-star collaborators on his latest album, Entre Cuerdas, curiosity got the better of me. The result is a gem of an album: unique in texture, addictive in groove, and balanced between passionate performance and studio polish.

Novelty functions as a double-edged sword for performers of obscure instruments. On one hand, bandleaders hire what they know: who would take a chance on a harpist when the pool of good pianists is too deep to plumb? On the other hand, who can resist the urge to hear the world's premier – and to your humble reviewer's knowledge, only – master of this instrument in the jazz idiom?

Most immediately striking is the album's instrumentation. Couterbalancing Castaneda's percussive sound is the purr of trombone, well-chosen effected stabs of guitar, the ring and hum of vibraphone, a round electric bass sound, and solid drumming. Each member of Castaneda's personnel possesses the virtuosity to create a wide variety of colors on their instrument, effecting a multiplication of possible textures for each additional musician.

Marshall Gilkes' trombone playing is singular in its flexibility, allowing immediate juxtaposition of low pedal tones and high singing notes. Gilkes exhibits more virtuosity in his background riffs and melodies than most trombonists do in their most epic solos. Joe Locke's vibraphone blends impeccably with Castaneda's harp, filling out the angular melodies of “Colibri” and “Song of Hope” with characteristic warmth. His solo on the former accelerates quickly, spurned by Castaneda's energetic comping into fluttering cascades. Locke's ebullience intensifies the album, and his rhythmic confidence adds another layer of complexity to an already intricate mix.

Two-thirds of the way through Entre Cuerdas, Castaneda offers listeners a surprise change of texture on “Colombian Dixe.” An unexpected swing feel gives way to a plunger trombone solo that contrasts so greatly with the rest of the album as to challenge the continuity of the whole. “Colombian Dixe” quickly returns to a more familiar feel, and the swing is rendered ephemeral, nowhere to be found on the rest of the album. The effect could be one of humor, or it could be a hint of immaturity. One of the intrinsic challenges of listening to instrumental music is the elusiveness of objectivity in interpreting such gestures.

Entre Cuerdas is unique in its attention to textural and rhythmic counterpoint. An unusual mix of instruments adds an aspect of originality to this album that should make it irresistible to jazz fans with an appetite for novelty, while its energy and stylistic integrity should give it a solid listener base among more traditional ears.

Release Date:
July 28th, 2009 on ArtistShare Records
Personnel:
•Edmar Castaneda – Harp
•Marshall Gilkes – Trombone
•Dave Silliman – Drums/percussion
•Andrea Tierra – Voice
•John Scofield – Guitar
•Samuel Torres – Cajon
•Joe Locke – Vibraphone

Track List:
1.Sabroson
2.Entre Cuerdas
3.Jesus de Nazareth
4.Colibri
5.Song of Hope
6.Columbian Dixie
7.Canto
8.Looking Forward
9.Afro Seis
http://jazz.about.com/od/2009releases/fr/edmarcasteneda.htm